Madtimes

Our High and Low Times by Auto car.

I have always had great un comfortability (fear) of driving (or
riding) on roads that are steeply sided and have skimpy little
guard rails. Here are a few true stories of our white knuckle
adventures - please be cautioned that if you are affected by
these same fears, it is best that you look away now.

"Piggy-wiggly"

There is a road just west of Castellina in Chianti, Italy, that
Diane, Ginger, Hammie and I travelled on several years ago. I
was the driver and should have known from the map that this
was one of those "piggly-wiggly" roads. We began our drive
on this undulating road with its steep hair-pin curves - higher
and higher we climbed. The protective trees along the sides
disappeared and the guard rails became mere small stones
placed here and there! Everyone was nervous for me and
themselves. Each curve got tighter and steeper. After about
an hour we finally reached the top and many sighs of relief
were heard. Ginger, knowing my fear, asked me from the
back seat "Paul, how did you conquer your fears?" I replied
"I simply kept my eyes closed tightly on each curve!!"

"Limoncello"

As Diane and I approached the Isle of Capri by ferry we
commented on what appeared to be a very steep
mountainous winding road on the island. "No way", I said
and Diane agreed firmly. We began our tour in a small local
bus and I sat in the front right seat. Suddenly, the driver took
a hard right and began the trip up "terror" road to Anacapri,
the mountain-top village known for its spectacular views and
lemon trees. Steadily the driver pushed the little shaky bus
up the treacherous road. The wheels squealed against the
stingy little stone guard rails on each curve, especially when
a large truck squeezed by. I aimed my cam corder out the
window and closed my eyes. The sheer drop must have been
500 feet and I mean sheer. Even today when I watch the video
certain body parts ache! The only good thing about that
terrifying journey to the top was that while in Anacapri we
discovered and fortified ourselves with the locally made
lemon liquor - the heavenly Limoncello.

"Village Perche"

Diane loves to explore the many little mountainous villages in
the South of France and one time she pushed the pedal of
fear to the floor. We had been driving up and around Entroux,
a charming small hill-top village not far from Vaison la
Romaine, France. Against my good judgment, Diane prodded
me to take the narrowest road which became a dead-end. To
turn around, I gently nudged the stick-shift car back and forth
until I suddenly realized that the backed was suspended over
a hundred foot drop. Diane quickly exited the car and
screamed that I was less than a foot from going over the
precipice. I was having trouble getting the stick-shift in and
out of reverse and I also knew that I had only one more
chance left to get it right. I kept double checking the stick-shift,
while Diane unloaded her belongings - my confidence was
quickly dropping to a low. So, I held my breath and voila! The
car lurched forward to safety. Soiled linens to say the least!

"Merry go Round"

Our first time driving in the UK was a nail-biter indeed. We
picked up our auto near a highway just north of London.
After several tentative moments we were finally driving along
with the traffic and our confidence began to slowly increase.
Then came the crisis! We found ourselves in a busy
roundabout (circle). We were going around and around trying
to decide which road to take. Big lollies (trucks) crowded us
so we decided to go around again. Each time around there
would be a problem so we just kept going 'round and 'round.
The crisis was that we didn't know how to get off the damn
thing! It was twilight and there we were - 'round and 'round
and 'round. Finally, I just took a deep breath and aimed for
any road. Luckily, it was the right way and we checked into
the nearest B&B to bolster our nerves with a scotch - very
neat indeed!